Drum type washing machine

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a drum type washing machine. In the drum type washing machine, a pollutant remaining in a gasket is removed by water ejected from an odor removing hose. Accordingly, it is capable of preventing the pollutant from being rotted and thus causing odor. And, it is capable of preventing the pollutant from feeding mold in the humid washing machine, thereby preventing being smelly in the washing machine due to the mold.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a drum type washing machine, more particularly, to a drum type washing machine in which odor is removed.

2. Description of the Related Art

In general, a drum type washing machine serves to wash laundry by using a friction force between a rotating drum and the laundry and the laundry dropping from a top to a bottom in the rotating drum. Accordingly, in the drum type washing machine, the laundry is little damaged and is not entangled.

The drum type washing machine includes a cabinet forming an external appearance, a tub installed in the cabinet, a drum rotatably installed in the tub, and a gasket interposed between the cabinet and the tub so as to prevent water from leaking.

In the meantime, the gasket is interposed between the cabinet and the tub in a state that one side thereof is folded. Here, a pollutant (remnants of detergent, lint or the like) is caught at the folded portion, and still remains therein after an operation of the washing machine is over.

The pollutant is rotted and thus causes odor. And, in the humid drum type washing machine, the pollutant feed mold, and this mold also causes odor.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, the present invention is directed to providing a drum type washing machine in which odor is removed. And, another object of the present invention is to provide a drum type washing machine in which a pollutant remaining in a gasket is removed.

To solve the aforementioned problems, in accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a drum type washing machine comprising. a circulation hose for circulating water stored in a tub therein; and an odor removing hose diverged from the circulation hose so as to remove a pollutant remaining in a gasket by ejecting water.

Here, the circulation hose and the odor removing hose are connected to each other by a Y-connector, and the odor removing hose further comprises a switching valve, preferably.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a drum type washing machine comprising: a cabinet; a tub installed in the cabinet so as to store water therein; a gasket interposed between the cabinet and the tub; a circulation unit for circulating the water stored in the tub therein; and an odor removing unit for removing a pollutant remaining in the gasket by ejecting the circulated water.

Here, the odor removing unit ejects some of the circulated water to a folded portion of the gasket, preferably.

Further, the odor removing unit comprises an odor removing hose diverged from the circulation unit and connected to an opening formed at the folded portion of the gasket, an odor removing hose diverged from the circulation unit and connected to an opening formed at the folded portion of the gasket and a filtering net installed at the opening, or an odor removing hose diverged from the circulation unit and connected to the folded portion of the gasket and an injection nozzle installed at the opening, preferably.

In accordance with still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a drum type washing machine comprising: a cabinet; a tub installed in the cabinet; a drum rotatably installed in the tub; a gasket interposed between the cabinet and the tub; a circulation unit provided with a circulation hose forming a circulation path and a circulation pump installed on the circulation hose so as to circulate water stored in the tub; and an odor removing unit for supplying some of the circulated water to a lower side of the gasket.

The odor removing unit comprises an odor removing hose diverged from the circulation hose and connected to an opening formed on a lower surface of the gasket, preferably. Here, a filtering net is installed at the opening so as to prevent the circulation hose from being blocked by a foreign substance sucked thereinto, preferably.

Alternately, the odor removing unit comprises an injection nozzle installed at an opening on the lower surface of the gasket and an odor removing hose diverged from the circulation hose and connected to the injection nozzle, preferably.

Further, the odor removing unit is connected to the circulation hose by a Y-connector, preferably.

Further, the odor removing unit further comprises a switching valve installed at the odor removing hose and opened during a rinsing process, preferably.

The foregoing and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a drum type washing machine in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of “A” portion in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a main part extracted from an odor removing unit in FIG. 2;

FIGS. 4 a, 4 b and 4 c show a process that a pollutant is removed by water ejected through an opening in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a variation of the odor removing unit of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a main part extracted from an odor removing unit in FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Description will now be given in detail of the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Hereafter, a drum type washing machine in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail. FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing the drum type washing machine in accordance with the one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of “A” portion in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a main part extracted from an odor removing unit in FIG. 2.

Referring to FIG. 1, the drum type washing machine in accordance with the one embodiment of the present invention includes a cabinet 5 forming an external appearance, a tub 3 installed in the cabinet 5 so as to store water therein, a drum 9 rotatably installed in the tub 3 and receiving laundry therein, washing motors 7, 8 for rotating the drum 9, a rotation shaft 17 for transferring a rotational force from the washing motors 7, 8 to the drum 9, a bearing 11 for supporting the rotation shaft 17, a sealing member 13 for preventing water between the tub 3 and the drum 9 from penetrating into the bearing 11, a detergent supply device 30 for supplying water mixed with detergent to the tub 3, a water supply device 20 configured with a plurality of valves so as to supply or stop supplying water to the detergent supply device 30, a drain pump 40 for draining the water stored in the tub 3 by outwardly pumping it, a circulation unit 50 for circulating the water stored in the tub 3 therein so as to enhance washing and rinsing performance of the washing machine, a control panel 70 for controlling an overall operation of the washing machine by receiving a manipulation command from a user, and an odor removing unit 80 for supplying some of the circulated water to a lower side of a gasket 2.

A door 1 is disposed at a front side of the cabinet 5, and the gasket 2 is installed between the door 1 and the tub 3.

A locking spring 4 for supporting the tub 3 is installed between an upper inner surface of the cabinet 5 and an outer upper surface of the tub 3. A friction damper 10 for reducing vibration of the tub 3 is installed between a lower inner surface of the cabinet 5 and an outer lower surface of the tub 3.

A plurality of lifters 9a for moving the laundry up and down are disposed in s the drum 9.

The washing motors 7, 8 consist of a stator 7 implemented as a direct drive type motor and provided with a coil wound at a slot, and a rotor 8 rotating on an outer circumferential surface of the stator 7 and provided with a permanent magnet 12 therein.

The stator 7 is coupled to a rear wall of the tub 3 by a plurality of coupling members 19. The rotor 8 is coupled to a rear end portion of the rotation shaft 17 by a coupling member 18.

Once the coil of the stator 7 receives a power and thus to become electromagnetic, the rotor 8 is rotated by an interaction between the coil of the stator 7 and the permanent magnet 12 attached into the rotor 8. A rotational force of the rotor 8 is transferred to the drum 9 through the rotation shaft 17.

The bearing 11 is installed in a bearing housing 15 and includes a front bearing positioned at a front side of the rotation shaft 17 and a rear bearing positioned at a rear side of the rotation shaft 17.

The sealing member 13 insertedly installed on the outer circumference of the rotation shaft 17, thereby preventing water between the tub 3 and the drum 9 from penetrating into the bearing 11.

The detergent supply device 30 serves to mix the supplied water with detergent and then supply it to the tub 3 through a supply pipe 31. One exemplary detergent supply device 30 can be configured as followings. That is, the detergent supply device 30 may include a case and a detergent container installed in the case so as to store various kinds of detergent.

A siphon pipe is formed on a bottom of the detergent container. And, a supply opening connected to a connection pipe 22 is formed at the upper side of the case, and a detergent outlet connected to a supply pipe 31 is formed on the bottom of the case.

With such configuration, the water supplied through the connection pipe 22 is mixed with the detergent stored in the detergent container, and then flows out of the detergent container through the siphon pipe when the water mixed with the detergent reaches a specific level. The water mixed with the detergent is supplied to the tub 3 through the supply pipe 31.

A supply pipe 21 connected to an external water supply source and the connection pipe 22 connected to the detergent supply device 30 are installed at the water supply device 20.

A drain pipe 41 connected to the lower side of the tub 3 and a connection pipe 42 connected to an external drain are respectively installed at the drain pump 40.

The circulation unit 50 includes a circulation pump 51, a connection hose 52 connecting the circulation pump 51 to the lower side of the tub 3, and a circulation hose 53 connecting the circulation pump 51 to the upper side of the gasket 2. Here, in case that the circulation pump 51 is operated, the drain pump 40 stops operating, while in case that the drain pump 40 is operated, the circulation pump 51 stops operating.

The control panel 70 is provided with a plurality of buttons and dials allowing the user to manipulate the washing machine, and a displayer for displaying a state of the washing machine.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the odor removing unit 80 includes an odor removing hose 81 diverged from the circulation hose 52 and connected to an opening 2 aa on the lower surface of the gasket 2, and a switching valve 82 installed at the odor removing hose 81.

The opening 2 aa is provided with a filtering net 84 for preventing the circulation hose 52 from being blocked by a foreign substance sucked thereinto.

The odor removing hose 81 is connected to the circulation hose 52 by a Y-connector 83, accordingly some of the water supplied to the tub 3 through the circulation hose 52 is supplied into the odor removing hose 81. The water is ejected from the opening 2 aa through the odor removing hose 81 thus to remove a pollutant P remaining in a folded portion 2 a of the gasket 2.

The switching valve 82 is implemented as a solenoid valve, and is opened during a rinsing process. Thus, when the circulation pump 51 (refer to FIG. 1) is operated during the rinsing process and then the water is supplied into the tub 3, some of the water can be supplied into the odor removing hose 81. Accordingly, while the laundry is rinsed, the pollutant remaining in the folded portion 2 a of the gasket 2 is also removed.

FIGS. 4 a, 4 b and 4 c show a process that a pollutant is removed by water ejected through the opening in FIG. 3. Referring to FIGS. 4 a to 4 c, all of the pollutant P remaining in the folded portion 2 a of the gasket 2 is gradually removed by the water ejected from the opening 2 aa through the odor removing hose 81.

Accordingly, it is capable of preventing the pollutant from being rotted, thereby preventing being smelly in the drum type washing machine. Further, it is capable of preventing the pollutant from feeding mold in the humid drum type washing machine, thereby preventing being smelly therein due to the mold.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a variation of the odor removing unit in FIG. 1, and FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a main part extracted from the odor removing unit in FIG. 5.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, the odor removing unit 80 includes an injection nozzle 85 installed at the opening 2 aa of the lower surface of the gasket 2, the odor removing hose 81 diverged from the circulation hose 52 and connected to the injection nozzle 85, and a switching valve 82 installed at the odor removing hose 81.

The injection nozzle 85 ejects the water supplied from the odor removing hose 81 from an injection hole 85 a by a constant angle ⊖. In this embodiment, the water is ejected by an angle of approximately 120°. As the water is ejected by the constant angle, the water is spread over a large area of the lower surface of the gasket 2. Accordingly, it is capable of effectively removing the pollutant spread on the large area. And, as the water is ejected from the injection hole 85 a, it is capable of strongly removing the pollutant by an injection force.

As the odor removing hose 81 is connected to the circulation hose 52 by the Y-connector 83, some of the circulated water supplied to the tub 3 is supplied to the odor removing hose 81 through the circulation hose 52. The supplied water is ejected from the injection hole 85 a of the injection nozzle 85 through the odor removing hose 81 thus to remove the pollutant P remaining in the folded portion 2 a of the gasket 2.

The switching valve 82 is implemented as the solenoid valve, and is opened during the rinsing process. Thus, when the circulation pump 51 (refer to FIG. 1) is operated during the rinsing process and thus the water is supplied into the tub 3, some of the water can be supplied into the odor removing hose 81. Thus, while laundry is rinsed, the pollutant remaining in the folded portion 2 a of the gasket 2 is also removed.

As the pollutant is removed, it is capable of preventing the pollutant from feeding the mold in the humid drum type washing machine, thereby preventing being smelly therein due to the mold.

As aforementioned, the drum type washing machine in accordance with the present invention includes the odor removing hose diverged from the circulation hose and connected to the opening of the lower surface of the gasket. Accordingly, the pollutant remaining in the gasket is removed by the water ejected from the odor removing hose. And, in case that the injection nozzle is installed at the opening, the water is spread over the large area of the lower surface of the gasket, accordingly it is capable of effectively removing the pollutant spread on the large area. Also, it is capable of strongly removing the pollutant by the injection force.

Accordingly, it is capable of the pollutant from being rotted, and accordingly it is capable of preventing being smelly in the drum type washing machine. And, it is capable of preventing the pollutant from feeding mold in the humid washing machine, thereby preventing being smelly therein due to the mold.

The foregoing embodiments and advantages are merely exemplary and are not to be construed as limiting the present disclosure. The present teachings can be readily applied to other types of apparatuses. This description is intended to be illustrative, and not to limit the scope of the claims. Many alternatives, modifications, and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The features, structures, methods, and other characteristics of the exemplary embodiments described herein may be combined in various ways to obtain additional and/or alternative exemplary embodiments.

As the present inventive features may be embodied in several forms without departing from the characteristics thereof, it should also be understood that the above-described embodiments are not limited by any of the details of the foregoing description, unless otherwise specified, but rather should be construed broadly within its scope as defined in the appended claims, and therefore all changes and modifications that fall within the metes and bounds of the claims, or equivalents of such metes and bounds are therefore intended to be embraced by the appended claims. 

1. A drum type washing machine comprising: a circulation hose for circulating water stored in a tub therein; and an odor removing hose diverged from the circulation hose so as to remove a pollutant remaining in a gasket by ejecting water.
 2. The washing machine of claim 1, wherein the circulation hose and the odor removing hose are connected to each other by a Y-connector.
 3. The washing machine of claim 1, wherein the odor removing hose further comprises a switching valve.
 4. A drum type washing machine comprising: a cabinet; a tub installed in the cabinet so as to store water therein; a gasket interposed between the cabinet and the tub; a circulation unit for circulating the water stored in the tub therein; and an odor removing unit for removing a pollutant remaining in the gasket by ejecting the circulated water.
 5. The washing machine of claim 4, wherein the odor removing unit ejects some of the circulated water to a folded portion of the gasket.
 6. The washing machine of claim 4, wherein the odor removing unit comprises an odor removing hose diverged from the circulation unit and connected to an opening formed at the folded portion of the gasket.
 7. The washing machine of claim 4, wherein the odor removing unit comprises an odor removing hose diverged from the circulation unit and connected to an opening formed at the folded portion of the gasket, and a filtering net installed at the opening.
 8. The washing machine of claim 4, wherein the odor removing unit comprises an odor removing hose diverged from the circulation unit and connected to the folded portion of the gasket, and an injection nozzle installed at the opening.
 9. A drum type washing machine comprising: a cabinet; a tub installed in the cabinet; a drum rotatably installed in the tub; a gasket interposed between the cabinet and the tub; a circulation unit provided with a circulation hose forming a circulation path and a circulation pump installed on the circulation hose so as to circulate water stored in the tub; and an odor removing unit for supplying some of the circulated water to a lower side of the gasket.
 10. The washing machine of claim 9, wherein the odor removing unit comprises an odor removing hose diverged from the circulation hose and connected to an opening formed on a lower surface of the gasket.
 11. The washing machine of claim 10, wherein a filtering net is installed at the opening.
 12. The washing machine of claim 9, wherein the odor removing unit comprises: an injection nozzle installed at an opening on the lower surface of the gasket; and an odor removing hose diverged from the circulation hose and connected to the injection nozzle.
 13. The washing machine of claim 10, wherein the odor removing unit is connected to the circulation hose by a Y-connector.
 14. The washing machine of claim 12, wherein the odor removing unit further comprises a switching valve installed at the odor removing hose.
 15. The washing machine of claim 14, wherein the switching valve is opened during a rinsing process. 